Forming of welts in straight knitting machines



- 0d. 3,1945. V H. J. sTRAussBERGER 2,387,780

FOBMATIFON OF WELTS IN STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 29, 1959 4 sheet-sheet 1 1 mw: A

@MEM a@ www; 'L' mp @m Ummgmwm A Y 5; @A9 @u @HQ @e552 @mi j 1 Vf ATTORNEYS- Oei. 30, 1945. H. .1. sTRAussBERGER- 2,387,780v

FORMATION OF WELTS 1N STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 29,1939 l 4 SheetsTSheet 2 Tlg A \NVENTOR Aff/vs J 57PM/s555965? M Akwuwmun f ATTORNEYS.

Uct. 30, 1945. H. J. sTRAU'vssBERGr-:R 2,387,780

FORMATION 0F wELTs IN STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 29, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORN EYS.

@CL 30, 1945. H, STRAUSSABERGER Y 2,387,780

FORMATION OF WELTS IN STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES v Filed June 29, 1939 4 sheets-sheet 4 NVENTOR 43 y ,Vy/v.: el. Jrwwafnfa wwmww CWM ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 30, 1945 FORMING OF WELTS IN STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Hans J. Straussberger, Brooklyn, N. Y., assigner to Alfred Hofmann, Inc., West New York, N. J.

Application June 29, 1939, SeriallNo. 281,-767

40 Claims.

This invention relates to the forming of Welts in straight knitting machines, of the kind having a united bank of needles. The improvement has particular reference to the at knitting of full-fashioned stockings wherein, after the socalled hooking-up of the rst course, upon a bank of welt hooks, a predetermined length of fabric is knitted at the top of the leg, several inches in extent, which is then turned or folded back and, during a pause in knitting or between the laying of courses, has its initial loops placed or transferred back again upon the needles so as to be incorporated in the fabric, the fabric being thus formed into a doubled fabric or welt, the first and last courses of which both become locked with the loops of the next succeeding course. The

invention includes the method to be described and as Well the knitted product or stocking with welt; also the disclosed construction of welt hook, adapted for said method or otheruses.

It is known practice in the hosiery art to effect the formation of the welt through the manual or mechanical manipulation of the bank of welt hooks, first for the hooking-up steps and later, after the knitting of the welt, for the folding or turning back of the welt fabric or web, and transferring its initial loops from the hooks to the needles. The welt hooks or loop holding and transferring implements are mounted unitedly in a welt bar, usually with a spacing the. same as that of the needles, or a small multiple of the needle spacing. The needles usually have spring beards and are mounted unitedly in a needle bar or bed; and with these cooperate other conventional instruments, including the series of sinkers or Web-holders, and the knockovers or bits.

The method of the present invention pertains to the steps of cooperatively associating Welt hooks with the needles of a knitting machine and, when in association, laying and kinking a yarn thereabout to form loops so that the hooks or instrumentalities may remove the loops from the needles.

A basic feature of the invention resides in cooperatively associating the welt hooks with the needles previous to the laying and kinking of the yarn so as to eliminate the setting up of the welt hooks in cooperative relation with the needles and loops after the loops are knitted.

The general objects of the present invention are to afford a more satisfactory and practical method for forming welts in hosiery, to provide a novel welt hook useful for said or similar methods, and to produce an improved product or structhereby modifying the procedure and causing the development of a new and special structure of fabric having advantages in practical use and Another object is to improve the appearance. construction of welt hooks and their coaction with the needles, and in a preferred form to provide a novel latch Welt hook which affords certain improvements in mode of operation. Other and further objects and advantages will be explained in the hereinafter following description of one or more illustrative embodiments of the invention or Will be manifest to those conversant with the subject.

Terms of direction or location are used herein in a relative sense for purposes of description and are not intended as limitations upon the essential character of the invention. The front side of the disclosure will be considered as the side from which the operations are usually viewed in observing a modern full fashioned knitting machine, the knitting therefore progressing frontwardly, toward the observer, and the needles having their beards at their rear sides. Further, the terms longitudinal and lateral, to avoid confusion, will be used generally in the sense of the direction in which the knitting progresses, in each section, this direction to be considered as longitudinal, so that the length of the needle bar, Welt bar etc. is transverse or lateral thereto, While the sinkers slide longitudinally frontward and rearward.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top view of the preferred latch type of welt hook of this invention, considered as lying in a horizontal plane, the front or butt end of the welt hook at the right end of the figure.

Fig. 2 is a left side elevation of the welt hook of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale, is a central vertical section view of the hook end ofthe Welt hook of Figs. 1 and 2. A

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of the same, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. `5 is a perspective view of the latch on the same scale as Fig. 4v.

Fig. 6 is a central sectional view` of the upper and the lower left portion of the figure showing the lower or innerlayer or ply. Y

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the fabric structure showing in a conventional way the initial courses of the welt, also the interlocking relation of these to the earliest courses of the stocking fabric beyond the welt. v

Fig. 9 is a partial top plan view showing, in an initial position, the relation of the needles and sinkers and the welt hooks extending from the welt bar toward and in the planes of the needles, with one welt hook for every second needle.

Fig. 10, in diagrammatic left elevation, shows the relation of the needles, sinkers, knockovers, and welt hooks in a stage or position subsequent to that shown in Fig. 9 during the hooking-up or loop-taking cycle of the welt forming operation.

For convenience the successive positions or tion B wherein the welt hooks have been caused to take their positions behind the needles in the course of the hooking-up operations.

Fig. 11 shows a subsequent position C of the parts, on a scale substantially enlarged, compared with that of Fig. 10. Similarly Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15 show following positions D, E, F and G respectively; while Fig, 16 similarly shows three successive positions H, I and J, all but the first of which are dotted.

Fig. 17 shows later position K, with a substantial length of welt having been knitted. Fig. 18, somewhat later, indicates position L, after the completion of the knitting of the welt fabric, shown broken away for condensation, and the commencement of the turning movement or folding back of the initial welt courses for transfer to the needles. Fig. 19 shows position M, with the welt hooks now vertical and approaching the i needles. Fig. 20 similarly shows positions N and O, with the welt hooks vaulting over the needles and coming down behind for operative engagement therewith, in preparation for the transfer. Fig. 21 shows the further progress of transfer partly accomplished, the initial loops having been engaged upon the needles; while Fig. 22 shows position Q after the commencement of the disengagement of the weltl hooks from the loops. Fig. 23 shows the later positions R, S and T following the disengagement of the welt hooks from the transferred loops, and carrying the cycle back substantially to position A.

Fig. 24 is a diagrammatic top plan v iew corresponding with stage or position D, showing the lay of the rst course of yarn with respect to the sinkers, needles and welt hooks, Fig'. 25 similarly shows the relation of these parts after the sinking dividers have moved tov their frontpositions, being indicated as position D1, preceding position E. Fig. 26 similarly shows the later relation of the same parts at position F, one of the final stages in the hooking up process.

Fig. 27 is a, top view diagram of the needles, welt hooks and the rst course of yarn shortly following stage J, after the completion of hooking up, and designated stage J1.

Similarly Fig. 28 shows the slightly later stage .l2 wherein the second yarn course has been laid and sunk. Fig. 29 is a side elevation diagram corresponding with Fig. 28 and showing stage J2.

Similarly Fig. 30 shows stage J3, following the completion of the second loop course and the laying of the third. Fig. 31 shows a side elevation diagram of the same position J 3.

Fig. 32 is a similar top view diagram of the looping, corresponding with position K, showing the third loop course completed and the fourth being formed, as the knitting of the welt progresses. This if inverted corresponds substantially with a part of Fig. 8.

Referring first generally to the disclosed fabric and the yarn courses, the fabric 'v of the stocking welt is knitted, and therebeyond, after the welt is closed, is knitted the continued fabric w of the stocking leg. At the outset a rst course x of yarn is laid behind the needles and welt hooks, on top of the noses of the sinkers to be received in the sinker throats or notches, as usual. This is herein performed in a special manner as will be described, and a second special yarn course y is laid in conventional manner to become interlooped with the first course. Each of the rst and second courses preferably consist of two yarns as Fig. '7 shows. Following this the successive courses e may be knitted in regular manner. what may be termed the final welt yarn course z' is a regular loop course with which however is combined the initial loop course fr, brought back in the turning or closing of the welt, both courses x and z becoming interlocked with the next succeeding regular course z2, which is the first course of the continuation or leg, beyond the welt. The fabric structure hereofrwill be more completely described. Referring next to the instruments involved, each needle 30 may be of the usual kind, and may standV upright, having a beard 3l at the rear side of the top end and with a groove 32 adapted to receive the point or tip of the beard. The bank of needles is mounted in the needle bar 33 below, as usual.

The usual notched sinkers 35 are shown with which may be alternated dividing sinkers 36, all sliding frontwardly and rearwardly in a 'sinker head 3'! constituting a fixed slideway. One portion 38 of the head 3l constitutes a press-edge for pressingl closed the needle beards at certain times, as usual.

On Fig. 11 is indicated the position of an ordinary yarn carrier 39, which lays courses on the sinkers behind the needles, and with this invention behind the welt hooks to be described. As usual there may be several carriers, and herein more than one may be cafused to traverse the fabric in certain operations, for example to lay two threads in each of courses :L' and y as already stated.

The knockovers di), or knockover bits, are of conventional character, being shown of the type having a loop receiving notch in the upper edge, although for some purposes theY hooked type of knockover may be utilized. The knockovers are united in a knockover bar 4I, the front edge 42 At the end of the welt fabric of which may in some embodiments serve as a press edge for the welt hook beards. During the knitting and narrowing motions the knockovers may shift upwardly or downwardly, straightly or curvedly, as usual.

The preferred type of welt hooks 43 are shown as forming a united bank, mounted on a welt bar 44. Each welt hook shank is formed at its front side with a groove 45 to receive at certain times the needle 30 and its flexible beard 3l. The hook portion 46 of the weltI hook is preferably flexible, constituting a beard, but it may be stiff when having a latch; but when the beard is used the latch may be omitted by using other means to guard or close the beard, as the press-edge at the front of the knockover bar. In the embodiment using the latch welt hook, the hook shank is shown at its rear side as formed with a pair of ears 47 between which is pivotally mounted the latch 48, the tip of which has a slight recess or groove 45 engageable with the hook part or beard 45. A simple pin S may constitute the pivot of the latch. As Fig. 9 shows, the welt hooks are preferably spaced with one hook for every second needle, and each hook preferably moves always in the plane of its corresponding needle. The welt hook spacing may be other than double that of the needle in some instances if auxiliary means are employed to ensure correct hooking-up operations.v

The illustrated latch welt hook 43 has certain special characteristics. The latch may be swung about its pivot easily, and has no opening or closing spring; but it may be under sufcient friction that it tends to remain in each position to which it may be swung, although it will operate as well even if free and loose. In one position the latch may be swung downward to engage and guard the top of the beard, bythe groove 49 at the tip of the latch; but the latch is preferably so short that it only slightly overlap-s the tip of the beard, wherefore a, yarn loop may pass down and off from the latch on to the beard and thence off from the beard.

Another characteristic of the welt hook is that the latch in either of its extreme positions to which it may swing is adapted to be caught and swung by a loop or strand of yarn being moved relatively along the length of the welt hook. At the lower or beard-engaging position of the latch this result may follow from the yielding depression of the flexible beard tip by the tension of the yarn loop, due to which the loop sliding up along the beard is caused to depress the beard and thus enter and engage the shank beneath the latch, when so required, so that continued relative upward sliding of the loop or yarn operates to swing the latch around from its lower or beardengaging position to its other or upper position. Preferably the hook part or beard and the latch are cooperatively shaped so that the tip end. of the latch normally projects slightly outward of the beard, as shown, thus assisting to insure that the relatively rising yarn loop will enter between the beard and latch, even if the pressure of the yarn is deficient. In its raised or upper extreme position the latch, as shown, stands out prominently from the shank to a sufficient extent to insure that a yarn loop sliding relatively downward will engage between the shank and latch, and with continued descent will cause the latch to swing around and down `to its beard-guarding or lower position. The metal of the shank between the pivot ears 44`| is shaped to constitutetwo stops or surfaces 5| and 52. The lower stop surface 5l limits the depression of the latch toward the shank so that it can not follow the beard inward when the yarn is intended to pass from the beard to beneath the latch. The upper stop 52 prevents the raised latch from lying ,flatly against the shank and so insures its protruding to admit the yarn between it and the shank as described. The latch there- .fore needs no spring, nor any shifting or reversing means other than the relative movements of the yarn itself, as the welt hook is shifted downwardly and upwardly.

The only remaining welt forming instrument to describe is the welt rod 54 adapted to 'be placed in Vthe fold of the fabric v at a suitable time and to be operated to apply a frontward-pulling or draw-off tension on the fabric being knitted; 'and this rod may subsequently remain engaged in the stocking welt during a certain extent of continued knitting of the stocking leg, in a conventional manner, although the tension is preferably relieved during the welt transfer operations.

The' preferred operation 1s indicated by the side view and plan view diagrams Figs. 9 to 32 showing various successive stages or positions referred to as positions A to T. These position references being applied to the figures it wil1 be unnecessary to refer always to the figures in describing the operations. In position A, Fig. 9, the parts, shown in top view, may be considered as in normal or idle position, the welt bar 44 and hooks 43 resting substantially horizontal well to the front of the needles. No yarn has been laid. There is a welt hook for every second needle, and in the subsequent positions the welt hooks move always in the planes of the respective needles.

The rst general part of the operation is the hooking-up, which may be said to carry the description from position A to position K, of the diagrams. In the rst part of the hookingup operations the conventional narrowing motions are taken advantage of, the machine being initially set to put the needles, sinkers and knockovers through the narrowing motions, in cooperation with which the welt hooks are manipulated. The motion arrows appearing on the diagrams are intended to show approximately the direction of movement through which the respective` instruments have just immediately passed in bringing them to the illustrated positions.

Position B, Fig. 10, on the same scale as Fig. 9, shows the welt hooks having risen, tilted upright, hurdled over the needles, and descended behind the needles, with the hook beards facing rearwardly and the hook apexes lower than the sinker noses.

Position C shows another step in the progress of hooking up. The welt bar and hooks have been bodily shifted frontwardly. The narrowing motion has caused the sinkers to retract and the needles to rise substantially. The frontward shift of the welt hooks therefore causes the groove 45 of each welt hook to receive and enclose its corresponding needle and to close the beard of the needle. This refers of course to every second needle, the remaining needles standing free and normal.

These movements bring the parts in position to receive the first course of yarn, laid upon the sinker noses behind the beards of the welt hooks. Following position C the narrowing motions may be discontinued and the machine adjusted for regular knitting-motions. The loops of the first row are preferably formed in the normal way, by

the regular sinking and dividing movements, as

though they were to be ordinary short loops, according to standard practice. The alternate loops however will be substantially lengthened because of the dimensions of the welt hooks, around the beards of which the yarn loops must pass during the sinking operation.

While a single thread or yarn might be laid for the initial course, according to this invention two threads are preferably laid, by the traversing movement of two thread guides, so that the initial course :l: of loops will be of double weight, as indicated in Fig, 7. This plan is advantageous not merely to reinforce the lengthened rst loop course but also to give a balanced loop structure in this part of the fabric, more especially on account of the excessive lengthening of the loops due to the fact that only every second loop is picked up, as will be described. The plan of applying two strands of yarn in the first course :l: is herein followed also in the second course y, which also is preferably of extended length; this arrangement of two successive double-yarn Vloop courses forming an effective and desirable approach to the succeeding regular formation of ordinary knitted loops z. v

The two-thread initial course at having been laid as described, we are brought to position D, Fig. 12, where the yarn :t: is seen to pass around the sinker throats and to the rear of the welt hook beards. around a hook beard, below the latch. The alternate needles are guarded against receiving loops. In top view the result is indicated in Fig. 24, the sinkers but not the dividers having moved frontward at stage D. It should be noted that at position D the frontward thrust of the sinkers applies substantial tension to the yarn so that the yarn deflects frontwardly, or bends inwardly, the beard 46 of each welt hook, as Fig. 12 shows; thus creating a thread passage between the welt hook beard and latch such as to insure the passing of the loop beneath the latch with the subsequent descent of the welt hook. Without this action and tension the relatively rising yarn might accidentally pass from the welt hook beards on to the latches and thus obstruct the performance of the subsequent actions to be described. Fig. 12 shows that the alternate loops are received on the hooks or beards 46 above the apeXes but below the latches.

The yarn :c is now in a position zigzagging in front of the sinker throats and behind alternate needles and behind welt hook beards, with the conformation diagrammatically shown in Fig. 24. Before passing to position E, position D1 may be described, on Fig. 25. Here the dividers-have come frontward, into alinement with the sinkers, and as usual the needles have shifted frontw-ard in cooperation with the dividing action, and with the needles of course the Welt hooks. These stages cause the yarn to be disposed as shown in Fig. 25. Every alternate loop engages a welt hook, the remaining loops the needles. i

At position E the welt hooks have lowered somewhat more than suiiiciently to cause the yarn relatively to rise and pass from the beards and beneath the latches. This shift is shown carried so far that the yarn rides up on the latches, opening them, but not passing beyond them. The needles are shown as partaking of the lowering of the hooks. The stage shown is only momentary, as the hooks next at once Arise again while the needles continue their descent.

This brings the operation to position F shown in.- Fig. 14 and in top view Fig. 26. The hook rise Every second loop is thus caused to pass i has caused the yarn to enter between hook shank and beard. The descent of needles has brought their beards opposite the press edge 38. The needles and hooks have moved rearward until the needle beards are pressed closed. Alternate needles carry yarn, the others are guarded against taking yarn by the welt hook and by the press edge, and the hooks carry their loops, free of the needles. The hook apexes are still lower than the needle apexes, each hook in the plane of its empty needle.

The hooking-up steps are completed as follows. In position G the needles have moved frontward somewhat and have lowered, while the welt hooks have moved frontward, above their needles, and slightly beyond them. This step is performed while keeping the yarn taut, as through resilientv mounting of the welt bar; and the long loops that extended earward in position F, see Fig. 26, now extend upward, as in Fig. 15. Meanwhile the sinkers have partly retracted rearward, but with their noses still beneath the yarn loops.

At position H, Fig. 16, the sinkers have completed their retraction to discharge the yarn. The needles and welt hooks have shifted further frontward, carrying the yarn beyond the sinkers, and have lowered in unison. The hooks thereupon tilt over frontwardly through positions I and J, shown dotted in Fig. 16, toward their substantially flatwise posture (Fig. 17) in which they operate to draw-ofi the fabric to be knitted. The hooking-up is now completed.

Between positions J and K, the mode of knitting the rst few courses y and z beyond course :E is shown at positions J1, J2 and J3, Figs. 27 to 3l. Position J1, Fig. 27, shows the first course passing around alternate needles and intermediate welt hooks. Position J2 shows course y laid, sunk and divided upon all the needles, forming loops, alternate ones of which are ready to be pulled down by the needles through the loops of course m. Each of courses m and y is preferably composed of two or more yarns, and the loops of yarn y are preferably formed elongated, but not so long as loops .'zz, as in Figs. 7, 8 and 32 shown. Position J3 shows the disposition of yarn loops y after interlocking with loops x, Fig. 30 indicating how the alternate loops of yarn y become lengthened and with the long loops :z: form diamond shaped openings or spaces in the fabric. Also shown is course z laid and sunk.

At position K, Figs. 17 and 32, one or more regular loop courses z have been added by usual knitting, and the welt fabric is now well in progress.

As the welt fabric knitting progresses position L is reached, Fig. 18, wherein the welt rod 54 has at a suitable time been placed on the fabric and tensioned frontward by its straps, after the welt bar has reached its frontmost position and become static. The fabric here and in subsequent diagrams is broken away to indicate a greater length than shown. When the desired welt fabric length is attained the welt bar becomes again active and position M shows it tilted again upright and shifted partially back toward the needles. This is preliminary to the transfer, during which the draw-off tension on the fabric is relaxed.

A change is made from the knitting to the narrowing motion after the knitting has ceased and before the action of position M commences. The needles in position M are in descent, moving to a lowered position to receive the transferred loops.

^ Fig. 20 shows position N followed by position O in dotted lines, during which the welt hooks are moved back over and down behind the alternate needles during the narrowing cycle. At position O the hooks have made contact with their needles and the hook front grooves are about to engage the needle beards. The parts thus become arranged for the transfer.

At position P the transfer has progressed. By this timek the sinkers have shifted frontward and both ends of the fabric lie between the sinkers and knockovers. The alternate needles have ascended through the loops z on the welt hooks, all in accurate alinement. At the same time the hooks have descended, so far indeed that the initial loops :v have relatively passed up, along the hooks, above the beards and beyond the latches as well, lifting the latches and riding over them to the shank above. Thus the way is prepared to disengage the hooks.

Position Q shows the welt hooks immediately ascending again. The loops :c during this upward retraction ride down over thehook Shanks,

' throwing down the latches, if they have vnot already fallen, sliding relatively down upon the.

latches, where they are shown in an instantaneous position. The hooks however are rapidly rising and are pulled bodily through the loops, which pass from the latches to the beards and thence oif.

In position R, Fig. 23, by the rise of the needles the loops :v are forced down by the sinkers from a position surrounding the needle beards to the needle Shanks, where they remain, superposed upon the loops e', both ready to be locked into the next succeeding course e2. In the meanwhile the welt hooks, now freed from the loops, are moved rearward, slightly from the needles and lifted. Positions S and T shown dotted in the same figure show the movements of return of the hooks, upward, over their needles, frontward and downward with swinging tilt towards and finally to their initial front r idle positions.

With the resumption of regular knitting the next yarn course z2 will be received, looped and pulled down by the needles through the loops :c and a' thus completing the closing of the welt and starting the knitting of the leg. The welt forming is completed, and the parts are in initial position ready for repetition of operations with the starting of the next piece of hosiery.

Among modifications of the invention the following are mentioned. If the hook portion of the welt member is rigid, rather than being a flexible beard, the operations may be substantially as described, but in that case the tip of the latch should be slightly lengthened or formed into a lip to ensure the passage of the yarn under` the latch during the descent of the welt member. On the other hand when the welt member has a exible beard this may be operated without the 'latch by modifying the movements so that the beard is pressed against the shank, for example at position Q, as by means of the press edge 42 of the knockover bar, to permit the hooks retraction from the loop. While in the preferred embodiment there is provided one welt hook for every alternate needle there might be provided one welt hook for every third or fourth needle, along with a modification of method to ensure proper hooking up operations and interlocking of the second with the first course of yarn loops. As stated it is preferred that each of the rst and second courses be reinforced by the laying of at least two yarns in each, as by means of a plurality of yarn carriers; but instead there might be fed to these courses a special single yarn of extra heavy weight.

I claim:

1. The stocking Welt forming method carried out by means of banks of sinkers, rear-bearded needles and other cooperating instruments, and a bank of rear-hooked Welt hook implements, one for each alternate needle; such method oomprising the steps of placing the welt implements behind and in planes of alternate needles with the implement shanks engaging the beards of the raised needles, laying and sinking the rst yarn course to form loops behind the alternate needles and the implements respectively, raising the implements while sinker tension is maintained on the yarn thereby to cause alternate loops to pass inside the implement hooks, relatively manipulating the needles and implements carrying respectively the alternate loops to cause the implements to pass relatively above and frontward of the needles thereby completing the hooking-up of the fabric, and thereafter laying and sinking on the needles second and further yarn courses and interlooping them for the production of the welt fabric.

2. The method as in claim 1 and wherein the rst course yarn is laid behind the implement hooks, .following which the implements are lowered until the loops pass relatively upward off from the hooks preparatory tothe rise of the implements to cause the loops to enter the hooks.

3. The stocking welt forming method carried out by means of banks of sinkers, rear-bearded needles and other cooperating instruments, and a bank of rear-hooked and latched welt hook implements, one for each alternate needle; such method comprising the steps of placing the welt implements behind and in planes of alternate needles with the implement Shanks engaging the beards of such needles, laying and sinking the rst yarn course to form loops behind the alternate needles and behind the hooks below the latches of the implements respectively, lowering and again raising the implements while sinker tension is maintained on the yarn thereby to cause alternate loops to pass relatively upward from the implement hooks and under the latches and thence downward inside the hooks, relatively manipulating the needles and implements carrying respectively the alternate loops to cause the implements to'pass relatively above and frontward of the needles thereby completing the hooking-up of the fabric, and thereafter laying and sinking on the needles second and further yarn courses and interlooping them for the production of the welt fabric.

4. The method as in claim 3 and wherein the relative upward yarn movement from hooks and under latches terminates before the `yarn passes above the latches.

5. The method ,as in claim 3 and wherein the implement hook is a ilexible beard, which is caused to yield inthe operation of shifting the tensioned yarn from behind to within such beards.

6. The method as in claim 3 and wherein the usual narrowing motions of the instruments are utilized in cooperation with the welt implement movements until the laying of yarn commences.

7.'The stocking welt forming method carried out by means of banks of sinkers, rear-bearded needles and other cooperating instruments, and a bank of rear-hooked welt hook implements; such method comprising the loop transfer steps ofV shifting the loop-engaged welt implements rearwardly above and placing them behind and in the planes of the corresponding fabric-engaged needles with the implement Shanks engaging the beards of such needles, relatively raising the needles and implements and forming loops therearound and relatively lowering the implements to cause such loops to slide relatively above the hooks f the implements, relatively raising the implements while guarding their hooks thereby to cause the loops to pass relatively downward behind the hooks and so off the implements, and retracting the empty implements relatively above and foritwardly of the needles for return to idle position, preparatory to laying and sinking on the needles a subsequent yarn course to be inter-looped with the fabric and yarn loop course upon the needles.

8. The stocking welt forming 'method carried out by means of banks of sinkers, rear-bearded needles and other cooperating instruments, and a bank of rear-hooked welt hook implements; such method comprising the loop transfer steps of shifting the loop-engaged welt implements rearwardly above and placing them behind and in the planes of th'e corresponding fabric-engaged needles with the implement shanks engaging the beards of 'such needles, relatively raising the needles and implements and forming loops therearound and relatively lowering the implements to cause such loops to slide relatively above the hooks of the implements, relatively raising the implements while guarding their hooks thereby to cause the loops to pass relatively downward behind the hooks and so off the implements.

9. The stocking welt forming method carried out by means of banks of sinkers, rear-bearded needles and other cooperating instruments, and a bank of rear-hooked welt hook implements; such method comprising the loop transfer steps of shifting the loop-engaged welt implements rearwardly above and placing them behind and in the planes of the lowered fabric-engaged needles with the implement shanks engaging the beards of such needles, and while the sinkers are retracted. advancing the sinkers to confine the loops and fabric beneath' them. relatively raising the needles and implements and forming loops therearound and lowering the implements to cause such loops to slide relatively above the hooks or beards of the implements, raising the implements while guarding their hooks or beards thereby to cause the loops to pass relatively downward behind th'e hooks or beards and so off the implements. and raising further the needles to cause the loops to pass relatively down upon the shanks of the needles, while retracting the empty implements to idle position, preparatory to knitting a subsequent yarn course to be interlooped with the fabric and yarn loop course upon the needles.

l0."I-he stocking welt formingmethod carried out by means of banks of sinkers, rear-bearded needles `and other cooperating instruments, and a bank 'of rear-hooked and latched welt hook implements; such method comprising the loop transfer steps of shifting the loop-engaged welt implements rearwardly above and placing them behind and in the planes of the corresponding fabric-engaged needles with the implement shanks engaging the beards of such needles, relatively raising the needles and implements and :forming loops therearound and relatively lowering the implements to cause such loops to slide relatively from and above the hooks of the implernents, and beyond to a, point' .above the latches thereof, and relatively raising the implements thereby to cause the loops to pass relatively downward behind both the latches and the hooks and so off the implements, preparatory to retraction of implements and resumption of knitting.

l1. The method as in claim l0 and wherein there are loop-engaged welt implements for alternate needles only, operated to place ilr'stcourse loops upon such alternate needles in the transfer operation,

12. In the method of setting up a course of loops by cooperatively manipulating a bank of bearded needles and a welt bar having a series of hooks spaced to engage alternate needles on the bank of needles, each' hook being provided with a beard, the steps of engaging the hooks with the yarn engaging side of alternate needles, then laying and kinking a yarn to form a loop about the beard of each hook and the shank ofthe laterally adjacent needle, subsequently moving th'e hooks to place the loops within the beards of the hooksand then manipulating the Welt bar to A translate the loops held by the hooks.

13. In a 'method of setting upa course of loops by cooperatively manipulating a bank of bearded needles and a welt bar having a series of hooks spaced to engage alternate needles of the bank of needles, each hook being provided with a beard and a latch operatively associated therewith, the steps of engaging the hooks with alternate needles, then laying and Ykinking a yarn to form loops about the beards of the hooks and the shanks of the needles, moving the hooks in a. direction to open the latches thereof by the loops associated therewith, and thereafter moving the hooks in th'e opposite direction to force the loops into the beards of the hooks.

14. In the method of setting up a course of lloops by cooperatively manipulating a bank of bearded needles and a welt bar having a series of hooks `spaced to engage alternate needles of the bank of needles, each hook being provided with a beard and a latch operatively associated therewith', the steps of engaging the hooks with alternater needles, then laying and kinking a yarn to form loops about the beards of the hooks and the shanks of the needles, then moving the hooks in a direction to open the latches thereof by the loops associated therewith, then moving the hooks in the opposite direction to force the loops into the beards of the hooks, and thereafter manipulating the welt bar in a direction to move the hooks out of cooperative relation with the needles and carry the loops therewith.

15. In the method of `turning a stocking welt by cooperatively manipulating a bank of bearded needles and a, welt bar having a series of hooks spaced to engage alternate yneedles of the bank of needles, each hook being provided with a beard, the steps of engaging the hooks with th'e yarn engaging side of alternate needles, then laying and kinking ya yarn to form loops about the beards of the hooks, said loops projecting laterally beyond the Shanks of the needles, then .moving the hooks to place th'e loops within the beards of th'e hooks, then manipulating the welt bar to translate the loops, then knitting succeeding courses on said bank of needles to form a welt fabric, then moving the hooks again into cooperative engagement with the alternate needles and depositing the loops from th'e hooks onto the alternate needles, and thereafter knitting a course of loops to Acomplete the Welt.

16. In the method of setting up a course o'f loops by cooperatively manipulating a bank of bearded needles, a welt bar having a series of hooks spaced to engage alternate needles on the bank of needles, each hook being provided with a beard and a set of sinkers, the steps of engaging the hooks with the yarn engaging side of alternate needles, then laying and kinking a yarn by the set of sinkers to form loops about the beards of the hooks, said loops extending laterally beyond the shanks of the needles, then relatively moving the hooks, needles, and sinkers to place the loops within the beards of the hooks, and then manipulating the welt bar to translate the loops.

17. In the method of setting up a courseof loops by cooperatively manipulating a bank of bearded needles, a welt bar having a series of hooks spaced to engage alternate needles on the bank of needles, each hook being provided with a beard, and a latch operatively associated therewith, and a set of sinkers, the steps of engaging the hooks with alternate needles, then laying and kinking a yarn by said set of sinkers to form loops about the beards of the hooks and the shanks of the needles, moving the hooks in a direction to open the latches thereof by the loops associated therewith while relatively moving the needles and sinkers to place the loops in position to enter within the beards of the hooks, and thereafterv moving the hooks in the opposite direction to force the loops into the beards of the hooks.

18. In the method of setting up a course of loops by cooperatively manipulating a bank of bearded needles, a welt bar having Va lseries of hooks spaced to engage alternate needles on the bank of needles, each hook being provided with a beard and a latch operatively associated therewith, and a set of sinkers, the steps of engaging the hooks with alternate needles, then laying and kinking a yarn by said set of sinkers to form loops about the beards of the hooks and the shanks of the needles, then moving the hooks in a direction to open the latches thereof by. the loops associated therewith while relatively moving the needles and sinkers to place the loops in position within the beards of the hooks, and thereafter manipulating the welt bar in a direction to move the hooks out of cooperative relation with the needles and carry the loops therewith.

19. The method of setting up a course of loops by cooperatively manipulatingv a bank of knitting needles, a welt bar having a series of hooks one for each alternate needle of the bank and each provided with a beard and a latch operatively associated with the beard, and' a set of sinkers, consisting in cooperatively associating said hooks with alternate needles of the needle bank, laying a yarn and kinking the same by said set of sinkers about the beards of the hooks and the needles while associated therewith, simultaneously lowering the hooks and needles while the Vsinkers are in operative position to force the kinked yarn portions in engagement with the latches to open the same, raising the hooks relatively to the needles while the sinkers are in operative position to place the kinked portions of the yarn within the beards of the hooks, and the beards of those alternate needles which are not associated with the hooks, and drawing the hooks away from the needles during the knitting of complete courses of loops by the bank of needles.

20. The method of turning a stocking welt by cooperatively manipulating a bank of knitting needles, a welt bar having a series of hooks, one'V for each alternate needle of the bank and each provided with a beard, and a latch operatively associated therewith, and a set of sinkers, consisting in cooperatively associating said hooks with alternate needles of the needle bank, laying a yarn and kinking the same by said set of sinkers about the beards of the hooks and the needles, then relatively moving the hooks and needles while the sinkers are in operative position to force the kinked yarn portions in engagement with the latches to open the same, again moving the hooks relatively to the needles while the sinkers are inl operative position to place the kinked portions of the yarn within the beards of the hooks, drawing the hooks away from the needles during the knitting of complete courses of loops by the bank of needles, moving the hooks back into cooperative engagement with the alternate needles, relatively moving the hooks, needles, and sinkers to deposit the loops from the hooks onto the alternate needles, and thereafter knitting a course of loops to complete the welt.

21. The method of forming welts on straight knitting machines having movable banks of bearded needles, sinkers, and other instruments, comprising; manipulating in cooperation with said instruments a bank of welt member hooks each having a flexible beard and a latch swingable by the yarn between a lower position guarding the beard and an upper position to bring about first the hooking up on said welt hooks of loops of the initial yarn course, then the retraction of said welt hooks with the knitting of the welt fabric, and the subsequent transfer of the initial loop courses from the welt hooks to the needles atop the final welt loop courses substantially in the manner described.

22. The method of setting up a course of loops by cooperatively manipulating a bank of needles and a series of hooks, which comprises the steps of engaging the hooks with a predetermined number of spaced needles of said bank, then laying and kinking a yarn to form loops about the hooks and shanks of the needles, then moving the hooks to provide a hooking engagement with the loops, and thereafter removing the loops from the needles.

23. The method of setting up a course of loops by cooperatively manipulating a bank of needles and a series of loop manipulating elements, which comprises the steps of engaging the elements with a predetermined number of spaced needles of said bank, then laying and kinking a yarn to form loops about the elements and Shanks of the needles, then moving the elements to provide an engagement with the loops, and thereafter removing the loops from the needles.

24. The method of producing knitted fabric on a flat full-fashioned knitting machine, which comprises: causing a series of loop transfer instrumentalities to be moved between the sinkers and between needles and press surfaces; then traversing and sinking yarn to form kinks about said instrumentalities; then relatively moving needles and instrumentalities to position the yarn kinks on said instrumentalities frontwardly of the needles; and thereafter, during subsequent knitting, withdrawing said kinks away from the needles.

25. The method of producing knitted fabric on a flat full-fashioned` knitting machine which comprises: causing a series of loop transfer instrumentalities to be moved between the sinkers and between selected spaced needles and Oppsed press surfaces; then traversing yarn from one side of the machine to the other and sinking the yarn to form a Set of kinks about said instrumentalities and a Set of kinks about the Shanks of the intermediate needles; then relatively moving the needles and instrumentalities to position the set of yarn kinks on said instrumentalities frontwardly of the needles; then traversing and sinking yarn to form kinks about the Shanks of the needles; and thereafter pressing olf the set of yarn kinks on said intermediate needles and, during subsequent knitting, withdrawing said kinks away from the needles. v

26. The method of producing knitted fabric on a nat full-fashioned knitting machine which comprises: operating the machine to cause a series of welt hook instrumentalities to be moved between the Sinkers and between the needles and press surfaces to engage the Shanks of Selected needles; then to traverse yarn from one side of the machine to the other and sink the yarn about said instrumentalites and about the Shanks of the remaining needles; thereafter to impart relative movement to the instrumentalities and needles for disengaging the former from the latter; and thereafter to withdraw the instrumentalities and the yarn sunk thereabout away from the needles.

27. The method of producing knitted fabric on a at full-fashioned knitting machine which comprises: operating the machine to cause a series of welt hook instrumentalities to be moved between the sinkers and between the needles and press surfaces to engage the Shanks of selected needles; then to traverse Ayarn from one side of the machine to the other and sink the yarn about said instrumentalities and about the Shanks of the remaining needles; thereafter to impart relative movement to the instrumentalities and needles for disengaging the former from the latter; thereafter, during subsequent knitting, to withdraw said instrumentalities and the yarn sunk thereabout away from the needles; introducing a welt rod to tension the fabric beneath and beyond said hook instrumentalities between the sinkers; and thereafter relatively moving the instrumentalities and needles to take the loops from the hooks.

28. The method of forming the set up of fabric on a fiat full-fashioned knitting machine having spring beard needles movable en masse and cooperating sinker elements operating between the needles and a welt bar having a series of hook members spaced to cooperate with alternate needles, which comprises the steps of: manipulating said bar to cause said hook members to lay over the beard side of the needles; actuating said sinkers to kink yarn against the hooks of said members and against the Shanks of intermediate needles; relatively moving the needles and the members to position the yarn kinks held on the intermediate needles in the hooks thereof, and theyarn kinks held on the members in the hooks thereof; and thereafter moving the hook members and the yarn kinks in engagement therewith away from the needles.

29. The method of forming the set up of fabric on fiat full-fashioned knitting machines having needles movable en masse, comprising the steps of: introducing a welt bar having loop taking in- Strumentalities spaced for cooperative engagement with alternate needles; kinking a first course of yarn against the instrumentalities and against intermediate needles; manipulating said bar and needles relatively thereto to cause said instrumentalities and needles to engage their respective yarn kinks; and thereafter moving the needles to knit fabric, and moving the instrumentalities to withdraw the fabric away from the needles.

30. The method of forming the set up of fabric on fiat full-fashioned knitting machines having needles movable en masse, comprising the steps of introducing a welt bar having loop taking in- Strumentalities spaced for cooperative engagement with alternate needles; kinking a first course of yarn against the instrumentalities and against intermediate needles; manipulating said bar and needles relatively thereto to cause said instrumentalities and needles to engage their respective yarn kinks; thereafter moving the needles to knit fabric, and moving the instrumentalities to Withdraw the fabric away from the needles; applying a Welt rod on the fabric and moving the Welt bar to bring said instrumentalities again in cooperative engagement with the needles; and relatively moving the instrumentalities and needles to take the loops from the instrumentalities.

31. I'he method of forming the set up of fabric on a flat full-fashioned knitting machine having spring bearded needles movable en masse and cooperating sinker elements operating between the needles and a fabric take-up bar having a series of hook members each including a shank provided on one side with a needle beard receiving groove and on the other side with a beard and pivotal latch therefor, the steps of moving said bar to position the hook members thereof be tween the sinker elements for engagementl of the needle beards with the groove in the hook member'shanks; moving the sinker elements to kink yarn against the spring beards of the hook members; relatively moving the hook members and needles to cause the yarn kinks on the hook beards to pass beneath the latch and into the hook beards; moving the needles to knit fabric; and moving the hook members to withdraw the fabric being knitted by the needles.

32. The method of forming the set up of fabric on a flat full-fashioned knitting machine having spring bearded needles movable en masse and cooperating sinker elements operating between the needles and on afabric take-up bar having a series of hook members spaced for cooperative engagement With alternate needles and each including a shank provided on one side with a nee- `of: moving said bar to position the hook members thereof between the sinker elements for engagement of the needle beards with the groove in the hook member Shanks; moving the sinker elements to kink yarn against the spring beards of the hook members and against the Shanks of the intermediate needles; relatively moving the hook members and needles to cause the yarn kinks on the hook beards to pass beneath the latch and into the hook beards and to cause the yarn kinks on the Shanks of the intermediate needles to enter in the beards thereof moving the needles to knit fabric; and moving'the hook members to withdraw the fabric being knitted by the needles.

33. `'I'he method of forming the Set up of fabric on a at full-fashioned knitting machine having spring bearded needles movable en masse and cooperating sinker elements operating Ibetween the needles and a fabric take-up bar having a series of hook members each including a Shank provided on one -Side with a needle beard receiving groove and on the other side with a beard and pivotal latch therefor, the steps of: moving said bar to position the hook members thereof between the sinker elements for engagement of the needle beards with the groove in'the hook member shanks; moving the sinker elements to kink yarn against the spring beards'of the hook members; relatively moving the hook members and needles to cause the yarn kinks on thehook beards to pass beneath the latch and into the hook beards; moving the needles to knit fabric; moving the hook members to withdraw the fabric being knitted by the needles; applying a welt rod on the fabric; moving the welt bar to position the hook members again between the sinker elements for engagement with the groove on the hook member shanks; and relatively moving the hook members and needles to cause the needles to enter the yarn kinks held by the hook beards and to cause said kinks to pass beyond the latch onto the hook shanks and thence over the latches and hook beards onto the needles.

34. The method of forming the set up of fabric on a ilat full-fashioned knitting machine 'having spring bearded needles movable en masse and cooperating sinker elements operating between the needles and on a fabric take-up bar having a series of hook members spaced for cooperative engagement with alternate needles and each including a shank provided on one side with a needle beard receiving groove and on the other side with a beard and pivotal latch therefor, the steps of: moving said bar to position the hook members thereof bet-Ween the sinker elements for engagement of the needle beards with the groove in the hook member shanks: moving the sinker elements to kink yarn against the spring beards of the hook members and against the shanks of the intermediate needles; relatively moving the hook members and needles to cause the yarn kinks on the hook beards to pass beneath the latch and into the hook beards and to cause the yarn kinks on the shanks of the intermediate needles to enter in the beards thereof; moving the needles to knit fabric: moving the hook members to withdraw the fabric being knitted by the needles; applying a welt rod on the fabric; moving the welt bar to position the hook members again between the sinker elements for engagement with the groove on the hook member shanks; and relatively moving the hook members and needles to cause the needles to enter the yarn kinks held by the hook beards and to cause said kinks to pass beyond the latch onto the hook `shanks and thence over the latches and hook beards onto the needle Shanks.

35. The method of forming the set up of fabric on a fiat full-fashioned knitting machine having spring bearded needles movable en masse and cooperating sinker elements operating between the needles and on a fabric take-up bar having a series of loop taking instrumentalities spaced for cooperative engagement with alternate needles and each including a shank provided on one side with a needle beard receiving groove and on the other side with a latch hook, the steps of moving said bar to position the loop taking instrumentalities thereof between the sinker elements for engagement of the needle beards with the groove in the shanks of said instrumentalities; moving the sinker elements to kink yarn against the latch hooks of the loop taking instrumentalities and against the shanks of the intermediate needles; relatively moving the loop taking instrumentalities and needles to 'cause' the yarn kinks on the latch hooksto pass beneath the latch and into the hooks and to cause the yarn kinks on the Shanks of the intermediate needles to enter in the beards thereof; moving the needles to knit fabric; and moving the loop taking instrumentalities to withdraw the fabric being knitted by the needles.

36. The combination in a nat knitting machine of bearded needles;'welt hooks placeable in position on the beard sides of the needles, each of said welt hooks comprising a shank, a spring beard formed continuously with the shank at one end thereof, and a needle receiving groove formed on the opposite side of the shank; and, means to sink yarn about said welt hooks when in said position for forming loops thereon.

37. In a flat knitting machine: a bank of bearded needles; a bank of Welt hooks engageable with the beard sides of the needles, each of said welt hooks comprising a shank, a spring beard formed continuously with the shank at one end thereof, a latch mounted on one side of the shank at a point adjacent the tip of said beard, and a needle receiving groove formed on the opposite side of the shank; a carrier operable to lay yarn relative to the hooks; and sinker elements operable to sink the laid yarn while the welt hooks are in engagement with the needles.

38. In a flat knitting machine: a bank of bearded needles; a bank of welt hooks engageable with the beard sides of the needles, each of said welt hooks comprising a shank terminating at one end with a relatively long beard capable of springably moving towards and away from the body of the shank, a latch pivotally mounted on the beard side of the shank to normally engage the tip of the beard when sprung away from the body of the shank, stop means disposed to prevent the latch from following thev movement of the beard when sprung towards the body of the shank, and a needle groove formed on that side of the shank opposite to the beard side thereof; a carrier operable to lay yarn relative to the hooks; and sinker elements operable to sink the laid yarn while the welt hooks are in engagement with the needles.

39. In a flat knitting machine: a bank of bearded needles; a bank of welt hooks engageable with the beard sides of the needles, each of said welt hooks comprising a shank terminating at one end with a spring beard movable towards and away from the body of the shank, a latch pivotally mounted on the beard side of the shank to swing to opening and closing positions, said latch when swung towards closing position engaging the tip of the beard when swung away from the body of the shank, stop means on the shank engageable with the latch when swung to closing position to prevent the same from following the movements of the beard towards the body of the shank, stop means on the shank engageable with the latch when swung to opening position to prevent its engagement with the body of the shank, and a needle groove formed on that side of the shank opposite to the beard side thereof; a carrier operable to lay yarn relative to the hooks; and sinker elements operable to sink the laid yarn while the welt hooks are in'engagement with the needles.

40. In a flat knitting machine; a bank of bearded needles; a bank of welt hooks engageable with the beard sides of the needles, each of said welt hooks having an elongated shank mounted for longitudinal up and down movements in relation to a yarn in engagement therewith and construct- `ed withza. loop` holdinglilexible beard. at: therlower "end of its shankfwbearcifguiding-latch pivoted to the V*shank-above `the Vhoolrto swing on amaro longitudinally of the-,shankv and beard for placement in an upperposition andin a. lower `vposition, -said latch being so formed thatL `while in its upper position the yarn sliding along` the shank, and While in its lower position the yarn sliding along the beard, may enter under the latch wherewelt; hook in relation to the yarn; a `carrier operar.- rble to lay yarn. relative to the hooks land. sinner elements` operable :to v#sinlcthe laid yam while the welt hooks are-in engagement ,withxthe' needies.

HANS J. lS'JI'RAUSEIBERGER. 

